CLEVELAND — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Monday endorsed former Ohio Sen. Nina Turner to fill Ohio's 11th Congressional seat.

What You Need To Know

  • Former Ohio Sen. Nina Turner is vying for Ohio's 11th Congressional seat

  • Turner is a former state Senator and Cleveland City Councilwoman

  • Congresswoman Marcia Fudge left the Ohio House seat after she was appointed head of the Department of Housing and Urban Development

"I am proud to endorse Nina Turner for Congress in Ohio's 11th Congressional District. Nina is a bold, unapologetic progressive who has spent her entire career advocating for the working people of Northeast Ohio, and a powerful voice for progressive values and policies that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of working people across the country — like Medicare for All, a $15 minimum wage, and a Green New Deal. I need her alongside me in Congress in the fight for racial, economic, social, and environmental justice," Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement on Monday.

Turner is vying for the Ohio House seat following the appointment of U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

President Joe Biden tapped Fudge as his HUD secretary in December.

Turner said she has a lot planned if she gets the opportunity. One of the most important subjects is education. 

“You know, in the K-12 education, public colleges and university should be free," Turner told Spectrum News 1 in January. "That’s just it, and just as we don’t ask a child if, in fact, they do go to a public school, if they’re wealthy, not assuming that they all don’t but we know, many of them do not — but we don’t put that qualifier when we think about K-12. And I don’t necessarily think we should put that qualifier when we think about college. All means all."

Turner has other high-profile endorsements, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Deputy Chair for the Democratic National Committee Keith Ellison, and activist Shaun King.

Justice Democrats, a progressive group, is also supporting Turner.

Justice Democrats Executive Director Alexandra Rojas released a statement, saying Turner has backed the group's progressive movement from the beginning. 

"She has a strong public service record of fighting to uplift working-class people and deliver justice. We know Senator Turner will help create a mission-driven team in Congress to deliver relief during this pandemic and fight for Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, racial justice, and getting big money out of politics," Rojas wrote.

Since Fudge's appointment, a list of other candidates includes Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Shontel Brown and former state Rep. Bryan Flannery.